Farrowing pen



Nov. 13 1923.

W. C. N UTT FARROWING PEN Filed Dec. 4, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w-L'zzz'am5. mm:

W. C. NUTT FARROWING PEN Nov. 13 1923. 11,473,976)

Filed Dec. 4, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet Z Patented Neva 13, 1923.

warren stares earner cement WILLIAM G. NUTT, OF CASTANA, IOWA.

FARROWING PEN.

' Application filed December 4, 1922. Serial No. 604,781.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. Nu'r'r, a citizen of the United States,residing at Castana, in the county of Monona and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Farrowing Pens, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements 1n farrowing pens and the llkeand more specifically to means for attaching thereto guard rails toprevent crushing of young pigs by the sow.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter by the provision of attachments to the ordinary pen which inno way interefere with the use of the pen or obstruct the space thereof,guard rails for use during farrowing periods may be readily attached tothe pen.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter having removable brackets, the brackets being so constructedthat a minimum number thereof are employed for supporting the guardrails.

A still further object of the invention is the" provision of a novelform of bracket particularly adapted for use in mounting these guardrails.

These and other objects I attain by the construction and arrangementshown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose ofillustration is shown a preferred Figure 3 is aside elevation of thebracket,. the pen wall being "1n section;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the construction shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail of the I hook.

wall of each thereof. These side walls, as is well known to thosefamiliar with hog breeding, afford sufficient resistance to permit acrushing of young pigs by the sow when leaning against the wall and thiscrushing often results in large losses particularly where a sow israising her first brood.

I have found that by the use of guard rails 12 spaced vertically fromthe floor of the pen and substantially paralleling the side walls 11 inspaced relation thereto. the young pigs are permitted to move away fromthe mother sufficiently to prevent this crushing. These guard rails ifpermanently secured. to the side walls are ordinarily diflicult of removal. In accordance with my invention, I provide upon each of the fourside walls 11 adjacent one end thereof, bracket loops 13 substantiallyU-shaped in form and provided at the ends of the arms of the U withattaching portions 14 through which securing elements may be extendedfor engagement with the walls of the pen. The numeral 15 designatesbrackets, each comprising a vertical strip 16 having at its upper end ahook portion 17 adapted to engage through the U-shaped bracket loop 13and to be vertically disposed against the side wall of the pen with theangular portion 17 thereof resting upon the bight portion of the bracketloop. The lower ends of the vertical strips are provided with furoations18 adapted for the reception of securing elements 19 which arepermanently inserted in the wall of the pen.' These securing elementsare in the form of bolts extending through the wall of the pen andengaging in the slot and are arranged a distance, vertically spaced fromthe bracket loop 13 with which they are as soeiated. less than thelength of the vertical strip 16. In engaging the vertical strip 16 withits associated bracket loop, the strip is first arranged approximatelyhorizontally so that the angular portion 17 may be engaged beneath thebight of the loop and is then rotated to engage this angular portionover the bight; At this time the strip may be moved vertically to permitengagement of the bolt or securing element 19 in the lower end of thefurcation 18, subsequently to which release of the strip will permit thesame to move downwardly until. the angular portion 17 engages againstthe hight of the loop to limit such downward movement. The nut of thesecuring element 19 then being tightened, the vertical strip 16 issecurely held .angularly disposed wall 11 of the pen connecting with theend of the: wall to which the bracket is attached and next adjacent thebracket. This angular portion is provided upon its extremity with anupturned end 23, the purpose of which will presently appear. To supportand rigidify the supporting members 20, a "brace 2a is secured theretoat .its lower end and has its upper end attached to the vertical strip16.

The side bars 12 are provided upon each end thereof with bracketengaging members 25 each comprising a hooked member having its bodyfurcated and longitudinally adjustable upon the end of the side bar 12to which it is attached. In the present instance. these members areconstructed by employing a pair of strips 26 and .27, the strip 26 beingof less length than the strip 27, and being secured thereto adjacent oneend thereof, as indicated at 28. This end of the strip 2Tis providedwith a flat hook portion '29. The strips 26 and 27 diverge, as indicatedat 30, adjacent theirpoint of attachment thereof and have their bodyportions in substantial parallelism and slotted, as indicated at 31. Through the end of theside bar .12bolts 32 are extended, having theirends operating in the slots 31. It will be seen that by loosening thesebolts, the bracket engaging members 25 maybe adjusted longitudinallyupon the bars to compensate for any slight inequality in the length ofthe sides of the pen.

Ashereinbefore stated, a bracket 15 is attached to each side wall of thepen, thebrack- Jets being located uponcorresponding ends of the sidewalls. .The-side bars 12 are engaged with these brackets bylooseningthe' A bracketengaging bars 25-thereof and engaging the hookportion of the bracket engaging members with either the supportingportion 20 or the angular portion 22 thereof, dependent upon thelocationof the bracket. F or example, of the meeting ends T in the firstccaseagainst movement. towardv the wall by the lower end of the brace 24 andmovement .awayff'roi'n .thewall by the p angular portion 22. In the.second case, movement away from the wall willbe prevented by thesupport 20 and toward the wall by the angular end portion 23 of theangular port-ion After the side bars 12 are in position, the bolts 32may be tightened to secure them and prevent disengagement of the hooks29 from the bracket 15.

From the foregoing it is believed to be obvious that by use of anattaching bracket constructed in accordance with my inven tion, the sidebars may be very easily ap plied to the pen and removed, thereform. itwill furthermore be obvious that the brackcts themselves being readilyremovable will not require any permanent space in the pen. Many changesbeing possible in the construction of the brackets and bracket attachingmembers as hereinbefore described, I do notlimit myself to the specificstructure thereof except as hereinafter claimed.

1. In combination with the side walls of a farrowing pen and side barsparalleling each of said side walls in spaced relation 'to the walls andthe floor of the pen, of a bracket attached to each of, the side wallsadjacent one end thereof, the brackets being arranged at correspondingends of the side walls, the side bars embodying adjustable end portionsadapted for detachable engagement with said brackets, each of saidbrackets extending outwardly from the wall to which it is attached andbeing provided at its end with a portion directed toward a further. sidewall of the pen connecting with the side wall to which it is attached atthat .and a supportingmember secured at one end to the strip andextending outwardly" therefrom andprovided at this free end with anangular portion arranged in the same plane thereas.

3. In;a bracket for the purpose described and in combination with asidewall of a far-rowing pen, a loop secured to the wall of the farrowingpen, a vertical strip provided atits upper endwith a portion adapted tobe directed through said loop and to overlie and engage the same, asecuring element carried by the wall and engageable with the lower end.of said vertical strip, and a supporting member .secured at one end tothe strip and Qextending outwardly therefrom and provided at this freeend with an angular portion arranged in the same plane thereas, saidsecuring element bein spaced from said loop a distance less than thelength of said vertical member, said vertical member being verticallyshiftable through said loop when engaged therein and being provided atits lower end with a slot in which said securing element engages.

4. The combination with a farrowing pen, of brackets secured to the sidewalls of the farrowing pen and having horizontal portions arranged atright angles to their associated walls, and side bars extending intermediate said brackets and each provided at each end thereofwith ahooked member having its body furcated for the reception of the side barand longitudinally adjustable upon the side bar, the hooks of saidmembers engaging said bracket-s.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

WILLIAM G. NUTT.

